Who we are

Comber has a small number of core staff in Ireland and Romania, as well as a the support of a wonderful team of volunteers, trustees and donors.

Staff

Fiona Dowling, Executive Director (Ireland)
Fiona trained as a paediatric physiotherapist and volunteered in Romania in the 1990s. She began working in management and international development on a full time basis after completing an MBA and working in Irish disability services for a number of years. Fiona has been Comber’s Executive Director since 2006 

 

Bogdan Bobolea, Project Manager (Romania)

Bogdan graduated with a BA in Psychology (Major in Special Education) from University of Bucharest in 1997. He has worked for over ten years as an Educational Psychologist and Project Co-ordinator at various disability and health centres in Romania and England since graduation. Bogdan began working as a Co-ordinator for Comber in 2009 and is based in Bucharest.

  

Volunteer Programme Coordinator

Triona Collins, (Ireland)

Triona is based in Limerick and coordinates the Summer Volunteer Programme in Romania. Triona's background is in psychology and she is currently undertaking research looking at the experiences of parents who care for children with disabilities in Romania. Previously she worked with children with autism in applied behavioural analysis before volunteering with Comber in 2010.

 

 Founders and honorary board members

 Eric & Elizabeth Carson - Eric and Elizabeth founded Comber in 1991. They have extensive experience delivering projects in Romania, fundraising, recruiting staff and managing the organisation over 14 years. Eric is the Managing Director of telecommunications company with over 30 years management experience.

 

George Hook, Patron of Comber (www.georgehook.com)

“Having accompanied volunteers from Comber to Romania, I have witnessed the tireless work they do in trying to close down state run institutions in Giurgiu County. This requires help from you at perhaps the most difficult economic times. Please find a little time in your heart for young adults that perhaps unknowingly will owe you a debt of gratitude for the rest of their lives.” 

 

 

Board of Trustees

John Sheridan (Chairperson) - John was a development worker in Romania in early 90s and Comber’s coordinator on the ground in Romania for 2 year period. He is an experienced paediatric nurse and nurse manager and is qualified in Health Services Management.

Kieran McCarthy CPA AITI - Kieran is a chartered accountant and partner in Hughes Blake, Chartered Accountants and Business Advisors since Jan 2005.

Michelle McGill - Michelle has 5 years experience in senior management including operations and human resources, as well as running her own interior design consultancy. She is also an experienced fundraiser.

Miriam Kearney - Miriam is a lawyer by profession specialising in company and commercial law with over 25 years experience of law business and politics.

Aidan Mc Brien -  Aidan is a retired Social Care Work Manager with 35 years experience in Health and Social Care Development. Aidan is currently operating as an independent Trainer/Facilitator. He is involved in Mental Health, Learning Disability and Childcare training, development and evaluation in Romania since 2002.

Jennifer Malone - Jennifer is an Occupational Therapist (OT) working in the field of disability for over 14 years. Jennifer works as a senior paediatric OT in the Central Remedial Clinic, Dublin and is also an Occupational Therapy Practice Tutor for Trinity College. Jennifer is qualified in Supervisory Management from Irish Management Institute. Jennifer initially volunteered with Comber in the early 2000's and is more recently involved in the design, setup and running of the Comber Volunteer Programme.